Cambridge Pre-Us have now been withdrawn. Students who sat in June 2023 will have the opportunity to resit in 2024 if required, but no new teaching of the syllabus will now be started.
Updated: 17 Mar 2025
When hearing Cambridge, most people automatically think of the University or the city. In fact, the Cambridge Pre-U Pathway is one of the least spoken about options concerning the institution, offering up an alternative to A-levels.
If you've never heard of them before, we’ve given you everything you need to know down below…
In November 2019, Cambridge Assessment International Education announced the withdrawal of the Cambridge Pre-U qualification, after 10 years of running.
The last exams will be in June 2023, however 5 subjects (Latin, Classical Greek, Psychology, Russian and Italian) will be withdrawn in 2022. Students who sat in June 2023 will be able to resit in June 2024 if required.
If you are a current Cambridge Pre-U student or were considering doing Cambridge Pre-U courses this year, and are concerned about if the qualification will still be recognised by universities, you don't need to worry.
In their statement, Cambridge Assessment International Education said:
"Students who gain Cambridge Pre-U qualifications before their withdrawal can be confident that universities will recognise their achievements as fully as if the qualification were continuing. Cambridge International will continue to uphold its high level of service and support throughout the final years of Cambridge Pre-U."
According to the official website of the scheme, the Cambridge Pre-U is a post-16 qualification that prepares learners with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed at university. It promotes independent and self-directed learning in preparation for undergraduate study.
Students are given a total of 24 topics to choose from, each being a two year course with exams at the end.
You can take up to four Pre-U subjects, which can be combined with other qualifications – So you can do some Pre-U courses, and some A-levels too.
The Cambridge Pre-U aims to provide students with the following:
A deeper understanding of subject, which facilitates a better transition into university level study
Problem solving, critical thinking, collaborative working and independent learning
An international outlook and cross-cultural awareness
The Cambridge Pre-U is a linear two-year programme, which means there are no modules during the course.
How are they different to A-levels?
In terms of length and how many courses to take, The Cambridge Pre U and A-levels are very similar. They also hold the same amount of UCAS points as one another.
But, the content is a lot more vigorous for the Pre-U than A-levels - It’s designed to be a lot more challenging.
They are also not as widely accepted as A-levels are.
How do you study them?
The Cambridge Pre-U diploma is made up of three parts:
‘Principal subjects’: two-year courses in specific subjects, like A-levels. Students choose three but can replace up to two with A-levels.
‘Short courses’: one-year courses to ‘broaden learning’. These do not affect your overall result.
‘Global Perspectives and Research’ (GPR) – a two-year course, with a year spent developing research and thinking skills, followed by a year-long research project in the second year. Students choose from five broad themes: ethics, economics, environment, technology, and politics and culture.
They’re structured similarly to A-levels with students picking 3-4 subjects to study over two years. You have complete freedom of what topics to choose, and can even take some A-levels and some Pre-U courses simultaneously.
Up to TWO of the Pre-U subjects (excluding the GPR) can be replaced by another level 3 qualification, such as A-levels, Scottish Advanced Highers or an IB Diploma course.
Where do you study them?
150 schools across the country have registered to offer the Cambridge Pre-U to students, including state and private schools. Check with your school or local colleges to find out if they provide the pathway.
What subjects can I study?
The Cambridge Pre-U is available in 24 'Principal Subjects'. Each Principal Subject is a two-year programme of study with exams at the end, with the GPR required for each student too.
Flexibility is a key feature of Cambridge Pre-U. Students can choose any combination of subjects they like.
The subjects to choose from are:
English: Literature in English
Humanities: Classical Heritage, Geography, Global Perspectives, History, Philosophy and Theology
Languages: Classical Greek, French, German, Italian, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish
Mathematics: Mathematics, Further Mathematics
Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Social Sciences: Business and Management, Comparative Government and Politics, Economics, Psychology
The Arts: Art and Design, Art History, Drama and Theatre, Music
What do universities think of Cambridge Pre-Us?
The Cambridge Pre-U is accepted by universities across the world, including in the UK, Canada, Belgium, Germany and the USA. Around half of the UK’s universities will consider applications from students with Pre-Us, including University of Oxfordand University of Cambridge, and the Pre-U is considered an academic qualification by employers and the likes, on the same level as A-Levels are valued.
The grades are also roughly matched with A-levels, but with one important difference: the top grade – D1 – is considered to be better than an A* at A-level. After that, the comparisons are simple: D2=A*, D3=A, M1=B etc., making it easy to translate.
However, you should know that many will only accept Pre-Us in combination with A-levels, and don’t in fact accept the Pre-U Diploma alone. Despite existing for a decade, the Pre-U is still unrecognised by many universities, so that’s something to keep in mind.
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